Senior Specialist Research Metallurgist📣 Job Ad

About Ma'aden and the Opportunity

Ma'aden, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, established in 1997, is recognized as one of the fastest-growing mining companies globally and the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East. Ma'aden is instrumental in developing the mining industry to become the third pillar of Saudi Arabia’s economy, through building a world-class, fully integrated mining value chain. We are seeking a Senior Specialist, Research Metallurgist to join our team in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, for a full-time role requiring 5-10 years of experience.

Role Purpose and Contribution

The Senior Specialist, Research Metallurgist is responsible for advancing Ma'aden’s technology and innovation agenda. This role involves converting metallurgical research, testing, and process development into tangible operational and commercial value. The specialist strengthens decision-making by providing deep technical expertise to improve resource recovery, process performance, product quality, and operational efficiency. Through rigorous laboratory and pilot-scale investigations, the role reduces technical uncertainty, enabling informed investment, engineering, and process optimization decisions. It accelerates innovation while minimizing operational and metallurgical risk, supporting sustainable growth and continuous improvement across Ma’aden’s mining and minerals processing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct specialized metallurgical investigations to enhance understanding of process performance, recovery opportunities, and technical constraints.
• Generate reliable laboratory and pilot-scale data to support engineering studies, technology evaluations, and operational decisions.
• Improve recovery, grade, throughput, reagent efficiency, energy performance, and product quality through data-driven process recommendations.
• Develop and refine metallurgical flowsheets, operating parameters, and testing methodologies to enhance operational performance.
• Deliver technical assessments, mass and metal balances, kinetics evaluations, and process analyses to enable informed decision-making.
• Translate complex metallurgical findings into clear recommendations for engineering, operations, and management stakeholders.
• Identify technical risks, uncertainties, and performance gaps, recommending practical mitigation and improvement actions.
• Advance innovation initiatives through the evaluation of new technologies, methodologies, and process improvement opportunities.
• Provide specialist metallurgical expertise to multidisciplinary teams, laboratories, pilot plant personnel, and external partners.
• Strengthen technical execution through guidance, mentoring, and alignment with approved quality and safety standards.
• Deliver clear technical reports, presentations, and recommendations that facilitate action and value realization.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be demonstrated by:

• Consistent delivery of reliable data and actionable technical insights from metallurgical test work and investigations.
• Process improvement initiatives resulting in enhanced recovery, product quality, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Technical recommendations successfully supporting feasibility studies, pilot campaigns, technology evaluations, and process development projects.
• Early identification and practical, evidence-based resolution of metallurgical risks and process challenges.
• Provision of clear, timely, and high-quality technical support to stakeholders, improving decision quality and project outcomes.
• Consistent achievement of innovation, safety, quality, and continuous improvement objectives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgy, Mineral Processing, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of 5 to 10 years of relevant professional experience.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, offering an opportunity to contribute to a leading mining company's growth and innovation initiatives.